The Plattsburgh State men’s basketball team had a long weekend of taking losses to SUNY Oswego at Max Ziel Gym (75-69) and SUNY Cortland at Corey Gym (88-77) dropping their conference overall to 5-11.
Junior Guard Matt Bernhard scored a career-high of 17 points in 33 minutes coming off the bench with two steals, one block and five rebounds in the match against the Lakers.
The Cardinals had a rough start against SUNY Cortland with two missed three-pointers by senior Guard Nick Deangelis followed by another by freshman Guard Axel Rodriquez. Red Dragons sophomore Forward and Guard Austin Grunder made the first successful three-pointer one minute and 55 seconds into the game. Cortland freshman Guard Isaiah Preston made the second three-pointer 38 seconds later. PSU’s first score of the game came from a good layup by Deangelis from within the paint.
Deangelis tied the game with a good three-pointer with four minutes and 33 seconds left in the first half. The lead changed hands four times until junior Guard Matt Bernhard landed a good layup from within the paint during the last 10 seconds of the first half putting PSU in the lead (37-35).
PSU was not so fortunate in the second half. Grunder tied the game four minutes and 74 minutes into the second half with a free throw (43-43). Sophomore Guard Marlon Todd gave the Cards a lead with a good three-pointer with an assist from Bernhard. PSU was unable to regain the lead after Cortland junior Forward made a good layup. The Cards ultimately fell to the Red Dragons with a ten-point deficit.
Head coach Mike Blaine said the entire team wasn’t present for the away games last weekend because of some injuries.
“I’m disappointed with the results,” Blaine said. “We feel like we played some good basketball. We were just a little short-handed this weekend and weren’t able to get the results we were hoping for. We certainly competed and gave ourselves the opportunity. ”
Blaine said the Card’s fatigue played a role in the outcome of last weekend. With only eight players in uniform, more pressure was placed on PSU. He also said the Cards weren’t as sound defensively in the second half.
Nevertheless, Blaine has high hopes for the upcoming home games against SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Oneonta.
“We still have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the playoffs,” Blaine said. “We got a good weekend coming up so hopefully we get to play in the postseason.”
The Cardinals will go against SUNY New Paltz tonight at 7:30 p.m. and SUNY Oneonta tomorrow at 4 p.m. Both will be held at Memorial Hall.
